In Limburg with Friends

From Schiphol Airport, I traveled South to Limburg with two Friends that had come with the 5:43 NS Intercity to pick me up...

End station Horst–Sevenum and we're in the South of The Netherlands!

In less than two hours from Schiphol Airport to Horst–Sevenum by Intercity.

Travel by Rail is so relaxed!

Comparing to the hectic traffic and especially on a Monday.

Sure, my original plan was to arrive on Sunday... but some 3,000 flights got cancelled over that weekend.

My happy friend Ellie (friends for 57 years) and her daughter Elvira...

See links below post for reading about our very special relation with her.

This was on May 31 with 17°C or 62.6°F in Sevenum with a maximum of 18°C or 64°F

Yes, that was quite a cool–down for me; coming from Georgia/USA...

Elvira made us a yummy lunch on Wednesday, June 1.

She's a great Lady Chef

After our lunch at about 14:00, we did video WhatsApp with Pieter in Georgia/USA, who had just had breakfast at 8:00 in the morning.

Always great to see, and hear each other over the 8,000 km distance or 4,970 miles!

Pieter enjoyed talking with Elvira's boys.

The youngest, to the right of me, told Pieter that he had to carefully read all the notes...

They'd just overheard me reply to Elvira about her question what Pieter is eating all those days.

I told them that I'd hung sticky notes from the cabinets in the kitchen for each day for getting the meals together from the freezer and such.

Yes, I'd prepared a lot of food ahead of time!

Ellie's granddaughter Famke is into aerial fabric dancing!

Got to see her doing this LIVE.

Quite impressive and don't know if I could do that?!

Weather for the coming days would be lovely with on Saturday as high as 26°C or 78.8°F but on Sunday all rain...

Friend Sissy in her Tesla electric car, took Ellie and me around my home town and we even sat on a terrace in the sun, enjoying a cappuccino or tea. 

Also ice cream with some fruit.

Indulging in those things from the past; for me at least, as I'm out of The Netherlands for 39 years.

Next day we met again with Sissy and Ellie + spouses...

Time for dinner at Restaurant De Kraal in Venlo.

My selection was Heilbot or Halibut in English

And for me also white asperges soup... It still is in season and in the USA we never find them.

My Halibut served over a bed of pasta with a lemon sauce and spinach.

Topped with a fresh Coriandrum sativum.

Edible flowers look beautiful... and yes, I ate them!

Sissy captured this photo of Ellie and me...

So grateful for happy time with friends!

To be continued...

By the way; my humble blog reached 3,500,000 pageviews!

Related links:

Flying on Delta Premium Select–Savannah to Amsterdam | previous post by me

Back Home from my 67th Trip to Limburg in The Netherlands | previous post by me

{Wedding Elvira & Bob in 14th Century Castle} | previous post by me

{Wedding Elvira & Bob - Michelin Star Top Restaurant Brienen aan de Maas} | previous post by me

{Wedding Elvira & Bob in 1662 Franconian Auberge 'De Grote Waaij'} | previous post by me

Blue Ridge Scenic Railway

 Both of us woke up well rested at our Hyatt Regency Suites and after our own prepared breakfast, we went on our way...

It would be a one hour 20 minute drive to our destination. 

The weather was foggy and very cloudy with some drizzle...

By 14:15 we arrived at our destination of BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY

I'd ordered our tickets on line and we had to present proof of purchase at the ticket office...

Ticket office right around the corner.

A very small mountain village and our biggest challenge was for finding a parking space.

Luckily it was on a Sunday, so we could park behind a medical office where parking was prohibited from Monday thru Friday... 

It was a little walking distance and going back, uphill it was more of a challenge for Pieter.

The 1 hour 21 minutes were correct and I was glad I selected the Interstate, not all the way but biggest part of this 129 kilometer stretch or 80 mile.

Here I stand in front of the very long BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY

We had to walk to wagon 549... A 2 hour express train ride without a layover in Copperhill, Tennessee, due to COVID

There was no class difference in this train and for boarding we had to walk quite a stretch!

Somewhere in the middle of that stretch, they had a concession stand.

Pieter was a happy man here at 15:08 with his hot coffee!

Most Railways follow a river...

Fall colors were just starting out.

The river is again visible below.

It was a very rural area!

Crossing the river...

Across from the river we stopped in Copperhill, Tennessee but no layover due to COVID.

So sad for restaurants and shops that depend on the influx of tourists!

Yes, in times past copper was the main reason for this railway.

We started out in Blue Ridge on 241 Depot Street in the state of Georgia.

Across the river we arrived in Copperhill, Tennessee.

While using the app Relive and having my portable battery, I noticed that at times there was no signal.

But the way over was not the same route as the way back, there are different rails.

One such things that indicate that there was no signal is this weird sharp V-shape that we did not ride!

Guess due to the absence of any signal, the dots got connected a few seconds later but erroneously.

Our Relive video

The total was not more than 39.8 km or 24.7 mi and the average speed was 16.8 km/h or 10.4 mi/h.

Just outside of Copperhill, Tennesse and back on Georgia territory we passed through an extreme poor area. We got told by the guide that was in each wagon (talking loudly about what we were passing etc.) that there was a kind of a community vegetable garden. 

Volunteers worked it and the actual crop would be divided among the poor families...

As from my childhood, we do recall that often a railway will pass by the back of homes and their tiny gardens or whatever. Often a lot of rubbish was visible too. The front from the street might have looked better... but not the back of those homes!

It was an okay railway experience but fell short in comparison with the previous one we took in Bryson City, North Carolina. 

There is no service on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and you get seated without any seat assignment.

Loud due to children and kind of noisy was one of the biggest differences we noticed.

But still we feel bad for that region and they MUST draw tourists for pouring in some more cash before any update or improvement can be made.

Just an oversight for Blue Ridge Scenic Railway tarifs

Before dark, we safely got back to our cozy Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest for our supper and a good night rest. It was well chosen, for this Blue Ridge Scenic Railway adventure.

Related link:

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - Nantahala Gorge Excursion | previous post

Hyatt Regency Suites Atlanta Northwest | previous post

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - Nantahala Gorge Excursion

 On World Animal Day, we left our six kitties to their cat-sitter, and drove to North Carolina...

Our destination was Bryson City, North Carolina.

We'd booked for 2 nights at the hotel, conveniently close to the Bryson City Depot.

Here we are inside the First Class Silver Meteor cabin

Nantahala Gorge on a Diesel engine train

Silver Meteor

Table C Seat 3 + 1

When booking, I'd selected our choice of lunch and it was delicious.

Great service by our hostess Conny!

Pieter standing near our train, before boarding...

Yes, we were required to wear our face mask, except for eating and drinking.

GSMR = Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

Our departure was at 10:30 and every morning in the mountains of North Carolina it was heavy fog.

Such was the case as we crossed over the Tuckasegee River in Bryson City.

You see that around noon, the fog had cleared and we had sunshine!

This is in Almond, North Carolina in the Nantahala National Forest

Near Fontana Dam and Lake

Another bridge across the river.

The vines you can see on the ground are all Kudzu, a very invasive plant that got introduced for a certain beetle but has gotten completely out of hand!

After going a bit further than this point, we came back to the Nantahala River Gorge, with its rapids.

Ziplining, whitewater rafting, and kayaking paradise!

Surrounded by restaurants, that now could not fully operate due to COVID

Such sad facts for all those, that solely depend on tourism!

This was also the place where the Cherokee Indians lived in the Nantahala Town.

The people of Nantahala Town opposed the Treaty of New Echota and after the army arrived in the summer of 1838, many hid in the dense rhododendron thickets of the Nantahala Gorge.

Those captured, got driven from here via the Trail of Tears, to Oklahoma...

There also are hidden caves, where the Cherokee used to shelter in winter time.

More Kudzu on the banks and you can also see how the front part of our train is snaking through the area.

Again, near Almond in the Nantahala National Forest

Of course we did capture this very special train ride on Relive.

This rail track through the isolated Western North Carolina area got established in the late 1800s. 

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad History click link for reading more about the digging, filling and blasting for creating this track...

Husband Pieter standing on the bridge in Bryson City, overlooking the Tuckasegee River.

Such a lovely city with nice planters everywhere!

Friendly people and great restaurants too.

Hope you enjoyed traveling with us!

Video Great Smoky Mountains Railway click link

Floriade 1992 on a Cold and Windy Day after Earthquake in Limburg

So, on April 11, 1992 we arrived on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in Amsterdam, with our 92 kilos of luggage, coming all the way from Jakarta, Indonesia.

No problems checking in with our courtesy cards in regard to Maximum Baggage Weight...

The customs inquired about the boxes and upon showing once again the photos from the robbery and explaining that all that was left we bring home, they let us pass.

Putting things in the locker and then traveling once more by rail to the South where my Parents lived.

This is husband Pieter posing in front of the tulips at my Parents' place.
Keep in mind that all our clothes got robbed; shoes and everything. Except what we had on our back and inside our luggage, coming from work in India...
We gave away both our hightop shoes to the people working in the hot compost, barefooted. You find link below post from previous adventures.

On April 13, during our 2nd night at my Parents' in my former bedroom, we woke up at 3:22 AM by an earthquake! The rattling and shaking lasted for 20 seconds.

Pieter said very calmly: 'Now THAT is an earthquake!'... Wow.

~

Yes, in my Province of Limburg... With 5.5 on the scale of Richter!

The above article appeared in the then bi-lingual Dutch/American newspaper the Windmill, a bi-weekly publication.

On April 15, I had my hair cut, the LONG braid got snatched off with the hairdresser's scissors. See post below about it where I show it being framed.

Happy at home and with short hair!

The weather is still inclement and rather cold.

We enjoy a nice Easter weekend and on April 20, on 2nd Easter Day we went to the Easter Concert of Dad's choir with a youth choir; very well. 

On Monday we went to the city for buying a Sharp microwave for Mom & Dad as a gift.

We went to brother Piet's birthday on the 23rd.

On Saturday, April 25, we went with the early train of 6:30 AM to Zoetermeer for the Floriade. The biggest international Garden Exhibit that the Dutch hold every 10 years.

But oh, it was such inclement weather and cold and miserable...

We did not have the clothes for it, aside from our newly purchased leather jackets from the Leather Garment Factory in India.

Above, I'm admiring Begonias.

Cape violets...

I'm happy for being indoors in an orchid greenhouse and out of the chilling wind!

Wearing my newly bought sandals from Malioboro, Yogyakarta/Indonesia...

Remember ALL shoes got stolen. Those leggings were certainly not warming me much!

We both decided then and there to stock up on some warmer clothes, shoes and, all for keeping in The Netherlands...

Pieter was not as cold, even though wearing a short sleeved shirt was also not sufficient...

So typically Dutch with red tulips and lots of fragrant hyacinths.

Being indoors was a lot better, I see that here I swapped my sandals for shoes!

But we certainly enjoyed being there for the Floriade.

~

On April 26, brother Harry treated both of us and Mom & Dad on a dinner to celebrate his belated 12.5 year wedding anniversary. 

Brother Harry on the left, with his wife and their three little ones...

It was very special, together.

We also celebrated Pieter's Birthday with family on the 29th.

That year, we'd come to The Netherlands early February, en route to our work to Indonesia, for celebrating my Birthday with my Parents and family and next day brother Harry's and also Mom's Birthday five days later.

So now fate had it, that due to our early leaving from Indonesia, also Pieter's Birthday got celebrated in our birth country.

Very special time this visit, for being with family and friends!

On May 1, on Friday, we go by train to the airport.

We had dropped off all the excessive luggage the day before, by car, and placed it in a locker.

There we go on May 1, with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines finally going home to Atlanta, Georgia/USA

We've come a long way with the remnants from our Life in Indonesia as baggage... Our Exodus!

BUT we sure got a Royal treatment with an upgrade to Business Class on our Courtesy Card with KLM

Menu card reads: Inspired by 'Floriade', the greatest flower show on earth.

Our lunch menu

Cold meal

KLM's Wine Cellar in the Sky

Wine

Champagne and wine...

Liquors and Aperitifs

Discover Holland flowerland... at Floriade 1992! The World Horticultural Exhibition is the most colorful and breathtaking event of the year. A unique show of flowers, plants, trees, vegetables and fruit. Held only once every ten years, Floriade will greet the world from April 11 to October 11 in Zoetermeer near The Hague.

KLM Royal Airlines is main sponsor and official carrier of Floriade 1992.

They sure did carry us back home in a very comfortable way with our upgrade to business class, thanks to the courtesy card we each had. We felt quite pampered in the upper deck.

A very appropriate way for sealing off our Life in Indonesia..

Related links:

From Singapore to Jakarta and SURPRISE upon arrival at our Villa | previous post by me

Adventure in Madras India, now Chennai | previous post by me

{Did I loose my strength?... Like in Samson and Delilah?} | previous post by me showing my long braid

Pieter's Favorite Lambskin Leather Jacket Made New Again... | previous post by me